By virtue of article 19, paragraph 1, of the Statute, the expenses of the Tribunal are borne by the States Parties and by the International Seabed Authority on such terms and in such a manner as shall be decided at Meetings of the States Parties.

Financial Regulations and Rules

The Financial Regulations of the Tribunal were adopted by the thirteenth Meeting of States Parties on 12 June 2003 and became effective on 1 January 2004. The draft Financial Rules of the Tribunal were submitted to the fourteenth Meeting of States Parties pursuant to regulation 10.1(a), of the Financial Regulations of the Tribunal. The Meeting took note of the Financial Rules on 15 June 2004. In accordance with rule 114.1, the Financial Rules of the Tribunal became effective on 1 January 2005.

Audit

The accounts of the Tribunal are audited after the end of each financial period, which corresponds to two calendar years. The audit reports are made available to the Meeting of States Parties.

Trust Fund

The General Assembly of the United Nations approved on 30 October 2000 the establishment of a voluntary trust fund to assist States in the settlement of disputes through the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Resolution 55/7on "Oceans and the law of the sea"). The fund has been established and is operational.

Budget for 2017-2018

The Meeting of States Parties approved a budget for 2017-2018 totalling EUR 21,119,900. (SPLOS/301)

Contributions to the budget for 2017-2018

Contributions of States Parties to the budget for 2017-2018 are to be based upon the scale of assessments of the regular budget of the United Nations for the preceding financial year, adjusted to take account of participation in the Convention. The Meeting of States Parties decided that a floor rate of 0.01 per cent and a ceiling rate of 22 per cent would be used in establishing the rate of assessment for States Parties for the budget for 2017-2018. It also took note that the contribution of the European Union to the budget would amount to EUR 95,000 for each year.

Salaries and Expenses of Judges

The salaries, allowances and compensation of members of the Tribunal are determined from time to time at meetings of the States Parties, taking into account the workload of the Tribunal. They may not be decreased during the term of office (Statute, article 18, paragraph 5).

The overall remuneration of the members of the Tribunal currently consists of three elements: an annual allowance, a special allowance for each day that they are engaged on the business of the Tribunal, and a subsistence allowance for each day that they are required to be present at the seat of the Tribunal.

In accordance with article 18, paragraph 2, of the Statute, the President of the Tribunal, who resides at the seat of the Tribunal, receives an overall annual remuneration of US$ 168,878 and a special annual allowance of US$ 15,000. The Vice-President of the Tribunal is entitled to receive a special allowance for each day on which the Vice-President acts as President.

Judges ad hoc are entitled to receive compensation for each day on which they exercise their functions (Statute, article 18, paragraph 4).

The travelling expenses of the members of the Tribunal are met in accordance with regulations adopted at Meetings of the States Parties (Statute, article 18, paragraph 7).

Salaries, Allowances and Expenses of the Registrar and Officials of the Registry

The salary of the Registrar is determined at Meetings of the States Parties, on the proposal of the Tribunal (Statute, article 18, paragraph 6). As determined at the fourth Meeting of States Parties, the Registrar has a rank equivalent to an Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Deputy Registrar has the rank of a Director (D-2).

The staff of the Registry is remunerated according to the practice of the United Nations common system of salaries, allowances and benefits, as administered by the International Civil Service Commission. The Tribunal participates in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

The travelling expenses of staff of the Registry are paid under the conditions set out in the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules of the Tribunal.